Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 5 Jul 2001

Vol. 540 No. 3

Written Answers. - Architectural Heritage.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

256 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the degree to which she has intervened to protect sites of national, historical or architectural importance; her policy in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20747/01]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

The National Monuments Acts 1930-1994, is the main instrument for the protection of the built heritage. The legislation provides inter alia for the establishment of the Record of Monuments and Places, RMP, which affords legal protection to more than 120,000 archaeological sites and monuments in that where works are proposed to a site included in the RMP – my Department requires two months written notice of the proposals. The legislation also affords me powers to make preservation orders for sites that are under immediate threat of injury or destruction. Notwithstanding the comprehensive nature of this legislation, I have commenced a review aimed at its updating and consolidation to take account of the new threats and challenges that are facing our built heritage as we head into a new millennium. The review has already gone through a public consultation phase and draft heads of a new Bill have been circulated to Departments.

Since taking office, I have also taken measures to protect the built heritage. Among these for the archaeological heritage have been; the publication and application of two policy documents, "Framework and Principles for the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage" and "Policy and Guidelines on Archaeological Excavations", the doubling of the archaeological staff in my Department, thus enabling me to improve services in key areas such as archaeological licensing and in advising on and devising, mitigation strategies in relation to, planning and development impacts. My Department has agreed a code of practice with the National Roads Authority and similar codes with other development sectors are in the course of advanced discussions.

In relation to the protection of the architectural heritage, among the measures have been; the introduction in January 2000, in conjunction with my colleague, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1999, which strengthened the protection of the architectural heritage of Ireland. Under this Act, primary responsibility for protection of the architectural heritage rests with the planning authorities; my role in the process is mainly advisory, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage was given a statutory footing under new legislation that I brought forward in 1999, the introduction of the aforementioned new legislation also saw the establishment in my Department of a new division that has responsibility for compiling the NIAH and making appropriate recommendations to the planning authorities. The division also provides expert advice in the form of guidelines on acceptable works to structures included in the record of protected structures and advising on proposed developments that impact on protected structures. In November last year, I announced details of a £100 million investment programme in the built heritage under the national development plan. This includes some £80 million for capital works to the some 750 national monuments and historic properties and sites in my care.

Given that most risks to our important built heritage sites come from development pressures, my Department works with the planning and other regulatory authorities to ensure that legitimate development needs are balanced with heritage protection. Where, however, there is an undue threat to the built heritage I can have recourse to the protective mechanisms in the national monuments Acts, and these are invoked as required.

In relation to the Heritage Council, I am pleased that I have been able to increase funding for the council by 167% since July 1997 to a level of £7.986 million in the current year. I am satisfied the protection of the built heritage has been considerably strengthened since I took office in June 1997.